A Rare Case of Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare and aggressive variant of esophageal cancer. We report a case of a 69-year-old female who presented with dysphagia to solid food for 6 months and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed an ulcerated mass in the proximal esophagus. Biopsy findings were consistent with esophageal small cell cancer. The patient was found to have distant metastasis to the gastric lymph nodes on staging studies. She was treated with chemotherapy, resulting in initial disease resolution, but 4 years later, she presented with metastatic disease to the lungs and brain. This case underscores the need to establish treatment guidelines for this malignancy with a poor prognosis, given the paucity of randomized clinical trials.